Water and Carbon Cycle (Case Study) The Amazon Rainforest

Question 1

How much of South America does the Amazon cover?

Answer 1

40%

Question 2

How biodiverse is the Amazon?

Answer 2

Home to up to 1 million plant species, over 500 species of mammals and 2000 species of fish.

Question 3

How is the water cycle involved in the Amazon Rainforest?

Answer 3

Lots of evaporation over Atlantic Ocean, and wet air blown towards Amazon, contributing to the high rainfall experienced there.

Question 4

How does deforestation affect the water cycle in the Amazon?

Answer 4

Reduces rate of evapotranspiration, less water vapour reaches atmosphere, fewer clouds form and rainfall reduced which could lead to drought.

Question 5

How does deforestation affect the carbon cycle in the Amazon?

Answer 5

No roots to hold soil together, heavy rain washes away nutrient rich top-soil, transferring carbon to hydrosphere.

Question 6

What affect is climate change having on the Amazon?

Answer 6

In 2005 and 2010 the Amazon suffered from severe droughts. Scientists predict a 4 rise in temperature could kill 85% of the Amazon.

Question 7

Give an example of replanting in the Amazon

Answer 7

Peru plans to restore 3.2 million hectares of forest by 2020.

Question 8

What is one of the environmental laws in the Amazon?

Answer 8

The Brazilian Forest Code says land owners must keep 50-80% of land as forest

Question 9

Give an example of an organisation protecting the Amazon?

Answer 9

Central Amazon Conservation Complex, Brazil was set up in 2003 to protect biodiversity in 49,000km^2 while allowing local people to use the Amazon sustainably.

Question 10

How is the carbon cycle involved in the Amazon?

Answer 10

The rainforest stores lots of carbon in its vegetation and soil, so it’s a carbon sink.